Category: DIY Christmas Gifts

I’ve admired all of the porch signs that I see everyone placing on their front porch made out of repurposed old pallets and was dying to make one for myself but since Christmas is a time for giving it wouldn’t have been right.

My parents wedding anniversary is December 21st and I thought it would be a nice surprise gift for them to make one that commemorated their special day. Recently one of my coworkers called me about some pallets and had one that was the perfect size for my project!

This was just red spray paint, white acrylic paint and clear spray varnish in a matte finish. My parents really loved it and have it prominently displayed in their living room until spring.

OMy sister in-law is as crazed about the Nightmare Before Christmas as I am and loves Jack and Sally, So this year I made her a couple of ornaments for her tree. These were particularly fun to make and I think really turned out cute. I’m hoping they can brighten her spirits this year since she recently experienced the loss of her mother and is having a hard time year.
MATERIAL NEEDED:

Paint almond shaped eyes horizontally using the white paint. Painting 2-3 coats until you can no longer see the blue coming through.

Trace the eyes in black paint and draw a small arch over each eye making her eye lids, then carefully add her eyelashes and under eye circles.

Add the black pupils to her eyes and once dry add a few white dots of paint for a sparkle in the eyes.

Add a round up turned half circle for her nose in black paint.

Draw her small heart shaped lips mixing a little red and black together for her lips.

Draw aine going over her left eye and the add horizontal lines running through it to make her stitches.

Run a second line underneath that same eye running towards the back of the ornament adding stitch lines horizontally.

Add a line through her mouth running through the one under her eye and add the horizontal stitch marks.

Cut yarn to desired length and hot glue to the top of the ornament using a low temperature glue gun.

Put the ornament cap back on and hang up to enjoy!

Jack:

Paint his face in your desired look using black paint.

Using sculpey modeling clay, smooth out the shape of his bow tie on a flat surface adding each branch and smoothing it out. Add a small hole with the needle tool to the top of the head to run the string through.

Shape a small pointy heart for the bat head and using a ball tip tool press into the head to create eye sockets secure to the tie with sculpey Bake and bond and bake at 275 degrees for 15 minutes.

While baking, use your needle tip sculpting tool to poke a hole in the bottom of the ornament to run the string through.

Paint the bow tie black front to back and then add white lines.

Once dry, tie an end of the plastic string through the tie and knot it 2-3 times cutting off the extra end. Run other end through the hole pushing it as far up as desired and then add a bit of hot glue to keep it in place.

These are fun and easy to make and are sure to be enjoyed by any Nightmare Before Christmas fan! I hope they’ve inspired you to make your very own! Happy crafting and merry Christmas!